15 Adults-Only Activities on Rarotonga

Your spa time on Rarotonga is as serene as it gets. A selection of resorts specialises in spa treatments, from the "Vichy Showers" at the Waterfall Spa at Rumours Luxury Villas, which are unique to Rarotonga, to the beachfront massages at the Muri Beach Club Spa.

Compare all of the spas available in the 10 Best Spas in Rarotonga.

Location: Refer to the spa locations listed in the link above.

We can't complete this list of adults-only activities on Rarotonga without mentioning the adults-only resorts and boutique accommodations. If you haven't already set your sights on one of the resorts exclusively for guests aged 12, 16 or 18 years+, then you need to get your eyes on our 10 Best Adults-Only Resorts on Rarotonga.

These accommodations are specially designed to provide a tranquil holiday experience for guests, often offering unique amenities, such as a swimming pool or complimentary use of kayaks and stand-up paddleboards to explore the lagoon.

Location: All over Rarotonga. See the link above or the 20 Best Adults-Only Resorts in the Cook Islands for locations across the country.

With the drinks rolling in, giving you a newfound confidence to craft the best 'ei (floral crown) or Cook Islands painting, cultural creative workshops with Coco Brush definitely attract fellow adults rather than families.

Coco Brush offers two of Rarotonga's most social and creative Friday-night experiences: the "Paint and Sip" class and the "Prosecco and Petals" ei-making class, both held at Tiare's Restaurant.

Each two-hour session kicks off with a drink voucher redeemable at the bar (prosecco, wine, smoothies or whatever takes your fancy), before a guide leads the group through either a step-by-step Cook Islands-inspired painting or the art of weaving a traditional ei, a floral crown worn throughout the Cook Islands.

No experience is needed for either class, and the pace is efficient yet super sociable, with plenty of banter and, on most Friday evenings, live music adding to the atmosphere.

You'll leave with either a fully finished island-inspired painting or a beautiful floral crown to wear, plus a group photo shared on social media. Private classes are also available on request, at a time and location that suits your group!

Another crafting experience attracting a more mature crowd, Circle Cook Islands is where waste becomes wearable, and where you leave with something made entirely by your own hands.

Run by Sabine, Rarotonga's very own Eco Warrior with over 20 years of upcycling experience, these hands-on workshops at her Nikao studio transform everyday waste (think bike inner tubes, drink cans and plastic chip packets) into jewellery and handmade bags.

The "Make-Your-Own Upcycled Earrings" workshop runs for 2 to 2 hrs 30 mins, requires zero jewellery-making experience and teaches you how to make a seriously awesome souvenir. The "Learn to Weave" workshop, limited to just four guests, teaches the technique behind her famous upcycled bags, and you'll leave with a souvenir, a PDF guide and the skills to make your own bag at home.

Both workshops run rain or shine, indoors, and everything you make is yours to keep.

Visit the Circle Cook Islands shop on Tuesdays from 10 am to 1 pm, or find Sabine at the Punanga Nui Market every Saturday.

Tucked along the ancient Ara Metua back road in Matavera, this intimate aromatic blending workshop with Sylvie is as unique as it is creative.

You'll start by exploring a wide array of scents, from resins and woody notes to florals and fruits, before Sylvie guides you through how to smell and pair them into something entirely your own. Using a worksheet to work out quantities and percentages, you'll measure your blend with a pipette, name it and hand-write your own label. Cookies and lemongrass tea are served throughout, which is a nice touch.

By the end of the two-hour session, every guest leaves with a diffuser blend and a roll-on personal fragrance. Scents are island-inspired, drawing on ingredients like guava seed oil, hibiscus seed oil, moringa and Rarotongan botanicals, with all essential oils sourced organically from small producers. Sylvie also offers science-based therapeutic blends for those with specific needs.

KiteSUP offers a unique stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) yoga experience on the waters of Rarotonga, run in partnership with Pilates Cook Islands. Sessions are currently held on Wednesdays, using KiteSUP's own paddle boards, and provide a serene floating experience out on the water.

If you prefer to stay on dry land, Pilates Cook Islands also runs classes above the KiteSUP shop in Panama.

It's worth noting that availability depends on the instructor, Bryn, so the schedule can be inconsistent. We'd recommend checking in with the team before you plan your day around it.

TVK Watersports offers an exhilarating jet ski adventure along Rarotonga's stunning coastline. Their guided tours are perfect for thrill-seekers looking to explore the island from a unique perspective.

Choose between a one-hour tour covering half the island or a full island tour lasting up to two and a half hours. With a maximum of four jet skis per tour, you'll enjoy a more personalised experience.

Your professional guide, Marama, brings a background in surf rescue, ensuring both safety and an exciting experience. Tours are flexible, often including snorkelling and spearfishing stops (bring your own gear if you can).

For an added value, two people can share one jet ski for the same price. We recommend booking early to secure the best weather conditions for your ride.

Location: Main Road (Ara Tapu), Muri, east coast of Rarotonga.

Most of the time, it's just you and who you choose to hike with on this challenging yet rewarding hiking trail across Rarotonga. The Cross Island Trek is a 6 km (3.7 mi) trail marked with orange markers for those who want to experience the hike independently.

Otherwise, guided hikes are available with Maunga Tours. Aside from trekking through lush jungle forest, a highlight is Te Rua Manga, also known as The Needle. The trail ends at Papua Waterfall (Wigmore's Waterfall) where you can have a refreshing dip assuming it has been raining enough for the water level. See more hikes in the 10 Best Walks in Rarotonga.

Location: It's recommended to walk from north to south, starting from the end of Uruau Drive in Avarua (if walking from town, this adds an additional 3 km/1 mi to your journey). The trail ends at the end of Papua Road, approximately 1.6 km (1 mile) from the main road, where you can catch a bus. Learn more about bus transport in Taking the Bus in Rarotonga: Bus Fares, Routes & More.

Yes, you guessed it, Raro Quad Tours is the same company as the tour mentioned above but it offers a slightly different experience. This time, you're on a quad bike to explore the inland tracks of Rarotonga.

You'll get off the beaten track on this two to two and a half hour adventure, riding through beautiful deep valleys and tropical forests on automatic four-wheel quad bikes with your experienced tour guide leading the way.

You can choose between a single or double quad bike (with a combined weight limit of 130 kg). Tours depart twice daily at 8:30 am and 12:30 pm, Monday to Saturday.

Most of Rarotonga's water experiences happen within the confines of the surrounding lagoon, but those who venture further will discover an abundance of coral formations, caves and marine life where the plateau drops off into the deep blue.

Rarotonga has around 25 exciting dive sites around the lagoon, as well as additional sites within the lagoon, which can be experienced with the operators listed in The Best Dive Shops & Operators in Rarotonga.

Location: See the link for operator locations.

Reef Riders offers one of Rarotonga's most unique watersports experiences: electric surfboard riding on the lagoon, with one-on-one guidance from start to finish. No kids tugging at your sleeve, no waiting while someone smaller figures out their balance; just you, the board and the kind of focused, exhilarating session that's hard to find elsewhere on the island.

Your 35-minute session kicks off with a 10- to 15-minute tutorial where your guide walks you through how the board works, where to ride and how to nail your technique. Then you're out on the lagoon, gliding over a shallow, sandy bottom that's about as forgiving as it gets for first-timers.

Once you're up, you'll have around 20 minutes of free riding with your guide on hand to help with adjustments along the way. Fair warning: it's more of a workout than it looks, and 35 minutes will feel just right by the end.

Sessions run from Monday to Saturday.

One of the biggest Pacific party islands, Rarotonga, boasts a lively selection of bars and nightclubs where you can let your hair down. Hit the hotspots in Avarua, such as Rehab, One the Rocks (OTR) and Luna, or hop on one of the popular "party buses" for a night to remember.

The Rehab Party Bus operates on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, while the Going Troppo Nightlife Tour runs on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. These tours are a fantastic way to experience the island's vibrant nightlife and visit the most popular bars and clubs around Rarotonga.

Location: See locations in The Ultimate Guide to Rarotonga Nightlife and 10 Best Bars in Rarotonga.

Guarantee a sighting of gorgeous sea turtles in their natural environment on one of Rarotonga's amazing turtle swimming tours. Taking place among the strong currents of the Avaavaroa Passage, these tours are only suitable for confident swimmers; however, safety procedures are still in place. In fact, operators like Ariki Turtle Tours & Sea Scooters have a minimum age limit of seven years old for their turtle tours.

To ensure you share the experience with just the people you choose, go for a private turtle tour with Green Turtle Tours.

However, there are several options for turtle swimming across Rarotonga, so be sure to compare using the 10 Best Turtle Swimming Tours in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands.

Location: See the link above for operator locations.

Head out to the blue water outside of the Rarotonga lagoon for some deep-sea fishing! Shared fishing charters rarely have kids onboard, but private fishing charters are the way to guarantee a more "adults-only" experience. Experience the thrill of reeling in pelagic fish species, like mahimahi, wahoo and yellowfin tuna, on one of the many charters departing from Avarua.

Plan your fishing excursion, along with reef fishing and spearfishing, in The Ultimate Guide to Fishing in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands.

Location: Check out all of the departure points in the 10 Best Fishing Charters in Rarotonga.

Finally, you’ll hardly hear a peep out of excitable children at the Rarotonga Golf Club, even if it is a casual range where golfers tee off island-style in their shorts and tees. That’s right, Rarotonga has its own tropical 9-hole golf course among swaying palms and a mountain backdrop.

Once you've done your round, head to the clubhouse and bar to relax with fellow golfers. Find out more about making the most of Rarotonga’s golf course in The Complete Guide to Golf in the Cook Islands.

Location: Tipani Road, Nikao.